AICC General Secretary holds discussion on State elections

Shillong, Oct 31 (UNI) AICC General Secretary Margaret Alva has discussed the Meghalaya Assembly polls scheduled for February next year, with state Congress leaders, including Chief Minister DD Lapang and MPCC President O L Nongtdu.

Speaking to mediapersons here last night after meeting the executive members of the MPCC and Congress legislators, Ms Alva said the list of Congress candidates will be released within the next 10 days after a meeting of the Central Election committee in Delhi.

Ms Alva, who came here on a ''familiarisation trip'' after assuming charge recently, said she met former chief minister Rymbai and ''he did not say that he would not contest from Congress''.

Ms Alva also hinted that Mr Rymbai may contest on Congress ticket, while Higher and Technical Education Minister R G Lyngdoh would not be in the race due to personal reason.

It may be mentioned here that after a month-long drama over the leadership in the state Congress, Mr Rymbai was replaced by D D Lapang as Chief Minister in March this year, following which, the former Chief Minister openly declared that he would not contest the next Assembly election from the Congress ticket.

Earlier, KHADC chief executive member H S Shylla along with his supporters received Ms Alva on her arrival.

Talking to mediapersons Mr Shylla said that he wanted to show the Congress High Command that he ''has enough support to win the election if the party gives him a ticket to fight the election.'' Altogether, there were 108 Congress ticket aspirants for the 60 Assembly constituencies in the state.

UNI